Inspired

So I just read a blog by my sister-in-law, Caitlin, who is going to be improving her cooking skills by cooking all the recipes from a cookbook she picked out. I think the idea is so awesome and I would love to do something like that. My other sister-in-law is very crafty and she's always working on cute projects that make my attempts at decorating look like an equivalent to a five-year-old's paper covered in stickers. They are both so cute and wifey and I'm just . . . . . . bossy. They both have inspired me to want improve or become good at something too!

The problem is, I don't know what to do. I need a project to work on! I've always wanted to become good at sewing but I don't even know where to start, and I know that sewing can become pretty pricey. Trying to save up for a baby on the way and losing my half of our income puts me on a pretty strict budget. Can you take on sewing without breaking the bank? Christmas is coming up so it would be neat if I could make homemade presents for everyone.

Or should I take on creative writing? digital scrapbooking? candy making? canning? an herb garden? Sigh, who knows. I thought about just trying to be a better mom but I need to take on something that helps release my sudden creative drive that hits me in the fall time.

I'm going to come up with something, so . . . suggestions?  Whether it's on how to sew on a budget or a new project to take on, I'm welcome to new ideas!

18 months!

I can't believe my baby is already one and a half! Everyone tells me how she looks like a little girl now and she really does! Here are some things I want to remember about her at this age . . 

She's learning how to talk and knows how to fold her arms, say amen, book, more, dad, hot, ball, banana....etc.  One of my personal favorites is when she blesses you when you sneeze. 

She can also point to every body part on cue. 

Besides Baby Einstein videos, she has no interest in TV but is completely obsessed with books.

Lydia knows how to buzz like a bee and bark like a dog.

She is a little devil at church so hopefully nursery will be a nice relief for momma now.

She is very shy and becomes more shy by the day!

Already, Lydia loves shoes, clothes, jewelry, and getting her hair done.

She makes an "aaaah" sound when you take off her shoes.

This is Lydia's cheese face she pulls when you ask her to smile. Haha, her famous nose scrunch.

Snack time is her favorite, and Lydia is known for being a good eater (as long as it's sweet). Strawberries and  banana's are her favorite.

Lydia is the sweetest, most adorable girl in the whole world!

Yellowstone

Brigham, Lydia, and I just took our first family vacation (besides to visit family) to Yellowstone. We had a great time! We met my family and stayed in a fun house in Island Park just outside of Yellowstone. We covered Yellowstone in two days and then we spent a day doing fun things in Island Park. It was so fun and just what I needed to get away for awhile. Here are a few highlights from the trip.

Here's the outside of the house we stayed in.

This is everyone eating ice cream after a hike. You used to be able to hike to the bottom of the falls we were at but they closed it off halfway down and I was so angry! It was a hard hike for nothing!

My brother, Scott, prepared Brigham's side of the bed with the baby mobile. Haha, it was pretty funny.

Some of the awesome scenery.

This buffalo (technically bison) was RIGHT next to us on the road. It was just casually walking down the side of the highway. Brigham rolled down the window to take a picture of it and I was ok with that, however, I warned him, DO NOT TALK TO IT. So, what did he do? The second we were next to it (and we were so close he could reach out and touch it if he wanted) he said, "Hey buddy!!" The buffalo turned its head, looked at Brigham and flicked its ears back. So... I drove off as fast as I could in a panic it was going to charge our car. Brigham was furious that I ruined his optimum picture shot and I was mad he talked to the buffalo. Sigh. It was AWESOME!!

Lydia with her feet up, enjoying the ride outside of Old Faithful.

Our family picture in front of Castle Geyser. It's a surprisingly good shot for our family.

Brigham and Lydia on the Coffeepot trails hike (thanks Sam and Caitlin for the idea for the hike, it was beautiful).

It was Brigham's first time ever to Yellowstone and I think he had a good time. I was grateful we made it through with no car troubles, no screaming children, and no sickness. We really had so much fun. Especially on the boat float down the river in Island park where the water was so shallow my mom got out of the boat and ended up dragging everyone until it was deep enough to float again. Yes, we all sat there laughing- we are bad children. Unfortunately we didn't get a picture of that. My mom really spoiled everyone this trip just like she usually does on every family trip. I hope I can plan vacations as well as she does some day. My dad kept proudly saying it was the first "Nelson family reunion" and that was a fun thought as well. What a good time we had :)

It's a Boy!

We recently went to have our ultrasound to check up on our new little one. We also decided to find out what we were having this time, after keeping our first one a surprise. I LOVED keeping our first baby a surprise. It made it so much fun. However, I was so sure we were having a boy this time there was really no point in not finding out. Immediately when the technician put her magic wand on my stomach and we saw the profile of our baby I wanted to say, "He's SO cute!" But I stopped myself because she hadn't confirmed it was a boy yet. But then after, "Oh yeah, this is a boy," "clearly a boy," and, "this is DEFINATELY a boy," I knew I was good to go. It's weird how strongly I knew this time.

He really was quite adorable and I loved every second. I always lay there with a silly grin on my face throughout the entire ultrasound. The ultrasound technician pointed out he's using my bladder as a nice little pillow, even though I didn't really need her to tell me that.  Also, I was supposed to be a little over 20 weeks, however, the baby measured a week behind, as did my stomach so my due date is now moved to 1/15/2010 which is a week later.

All in all, everything looked good, a four chamber heart with a great heartbeat, two healthy sides of the brain, etc. Here are some of the ultrasound pictures....

A cute profile picture of the face

Another face profile with the arm stretched above the head

One of the arms

And a little foot :) So cute

And I would put the picture proving he's a little man but I just don't feel like exposing this little guy online. You can ask for the hard copy of the picture if you don't believe me.

Now I've got to figure out how to raise a little boy because I have no idea. Any advice is welcome!